Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together raise the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other serious health problems. According to the NHLBI, a person may have metabolic syndrome if they have three or more related conditions, including increased waist size, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol.
Major drivers of metabolic syndrome include overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and insulin resistance. Risk can also increase when blood pressure, triglycerides, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels are not well controlled. NHLBI guidance also highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and keeping up with routine healthcare visits to track these measures.
Metabolic syndrome often does not cause obvious symptoms on its own and may be found during a routine medical visit. When blood sugar is elevated, symptoms can include blurred vision, increased thirst, increased urination, tiredness, and weakness.
A healthcare provider diagnoses metabolic syndrome based on medical and family history, a physical exam, and diagnostic testing. NHLBI notes that evaluation may include measurements such as waist size, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. A provider may also order heart tests to check for complications related to metabolic syndrome.
Treatment begins with heart-healthy lifestyle changes. NHLBI states that these are the first line of treatment for metabolic syndrome. Care may include nutrition changes, increased physical activity, weight loss, and treatment for related conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, or high blood sugar. If lifestyle changes are not enough, medicines or weight-loss surgery may also be considered in some patients.
Metabolic syndrome may often be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, following a heart-healthy eating plan, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and scheduling routine healthcare visits to monitor cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar. These steps can reduce the chance of developing both metabolic syndrome and its complications.
See a healthcare provider if you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides, or increasing waist size. Regular medical care matters because metabolic syndrome can be present before noticeable symptoms appear, and early treatment can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
